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Related Concept Videos

Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) Infrared Spectroscopy: Overview01:13

Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) Infrared Spectroscopy: Overview

Attenuated total reflectance (ATR) infrared spectroscopy is a powerful analytical technique used to study the composition of materials. It is widely employed in chemistry, materials science, forensic science, and other fields where sample characterization is required. ATR has several advantages over traditional transmission IR spectroscopy, including the requirement of little to no sample preparation and the ability to analyze a wide range of samples.
The ATR process begins by directing a beam...
Raman Spectroscopy Instrumentation: Overview01:26

Raman Spectroscopy Instrumentation: Overview

A conventional Raman spectrophotometer includes a laser source, a sample holding system, a wavelength selector, and a detector.
The monochromatic laser source, typically using visible or near-infrared radiation, generates a highly focused beam of light. This light interacts with the molecules of the sample, scattering some of the light. Liquid and gaseous samples are usually tested in ordinary glass capillaries, while solids can be analyzed as powders packed in capillaries or as potassium...
Raman Spectroscopy: Overview01:20

Raman Spectroscopy: Overview

The underlying principle of Raman spectroscopy is based on the interaction between light and matter, specifically molecules' inelastic scattering of photons. When a monochromatic beam of light, typically from a laser source, interacts with a sample, most scattered light has the same frequency as the incident light. This is known as Rayleigh scattering.
However, a small fraction of the scattered light exhibits a frequency shift due to the exchange of energy between the incident photons and the...
Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy01:05

Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy

Total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy or TIRF is an advanced microscopic technique used to visualize fluorophores in samples close to a solid surface with a higher refractive index, such as a glass coverslip. TIRF only allows fluorophores in proximity to the solid surface to be excited. When light from a medium with a lower refractive index (such as air) hits the glass coverslip at a critical angle, the light undergoes total internal reflection stead of passing through the glass.
IR Spectrometers01:25

IR Spectrometers

There are two main infrared (IR) spectrophotometers: dispersive IR spectrometers and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometers. In a dispersive IR spectrometer, a beam of infrared radiation produced by a hot wire is divided into two parallel equal-intensity beams using mirrors. One beam passes through the sample, while another is a reference beam. The beams then move through the monochromator, which separates the radiations into a continuous spectrum of different frequencies. The...
Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy: Overview01:09

Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy: Overview

When electromagnetic radiation passes through a material, atoms or molecules transition from a lower to a higher energy state by absorbing radiation corresponding to the energy difference between the two states. The absorption of infrared (IR) radiation causes transitions between vibrational energy levels in a molecule. Therefore, IR spectroscopy is a useful analytical tool for determining the molecular structure of molecules.
Different compounds display unique properties due to their...

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A Multimodal Wide-Field Fourier-Transform Raman Microscope
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Published on: December 30, 2025

Total internal reflection Raman spectroscopy.

David A Woods1, Colin D Bain

  • 1University of Durham, Department of Chemistry, University Science Laboratories, South Road, Durham, UK DH1 3LE.

The Analyst
|October 18, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Total internal reflection (TIR) Raman spectroscopy offers surface-sensitive chemical analysis within 200 nm of surfaces. Modern instruments enable rapid acquisition of spectra from ultrathin films, revealing insights across diverse material interfaces.

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Area of Science:

  • Surface Science
  • Spectroscopy
  • Materials Chemistry

Background:

  • Total internal reflection (TIR) Raman spectroscopy is a surface-sensitive technique.
  • It provides chemically specific information from near-surface regions (100-200 nm).
  • Often overshadowed by surface-enhanced Raman scattering, TIR Raman is now more accessible with modern instrumentation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the physical principles of TIR Raman spectroscopy.
  • To illustrate the technique's performance across various scientific fields.
  • To discuss advancements and challenges in achieving sub-diffraction resolution depth profiling.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing the physical principles of total internal reflection for enhanced surface signal detection.
  • Acquiring Raman spectra from samples within approximately 100-200 nm of a surface.
  • Employing modern spectroscopic instrumentation for rapid data acquisition.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated rapid acquisition of TIR Raman spectra from sub-nanometer films.
  • Illustrated applications in surfactant adsorption, liquid crystals, lubrication, polymer films, and biological interfaces.
  • Showcased utility for both macroscopic (leaf surfaces) and microscopic (lipid bilayers) structures.

Conclusions:

  • TIR Raman spectroscopy is a powerful and versatile tool for surface chemical analysis.
  • Modern instrumentation significantly enhances its speed and applicability.
  • Further research is progressing towards high-resolution depth profiling capabilities.